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(No Model.)

C. D. WILLIAMS. Sample Card and B0X.

No. 243,668. Patented June 28, |881.

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NITED STATES *PATENT Ormea.

`CHARLES D. WILLIAMS, ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

A SAMPLE CARD' AND Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,668, dated Tune 28, 1881.

Application tiled February 3, 1881. (No model.)l

To all wh-om t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES DWILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arlington, Hudson county, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new andv useful vImprovements relating to Sample-Cards, of

' cards. It allows the samples to be compactly applied together, inclosed within a small 'case for transportation in the pocket or otherwise, with a capacity for extending the card and separating the samples to a suflicient distance for convenient examination, without labor or loss of time. In what I esteem the most complete development of the invention, the samples are not only moved apart, but also turned somewhat so as to lie each in a different position ,when the card is extended for exhibition to that assumed when it is closed for storage or transportation.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out theinvention. I will refer to the goods exhibiteda's rufilings but it will be understood th at'other articles may be substituted.

-The accompanying drawings form a part of this specilication. v v L Figure l is a perspective view, showing the* `box or case open, but with the samplesnot yeti moved apart. Fig. 2 is a perspective .view` showing the box closed. Figs. 3 and 4: represent a portion of the extensible parts on a` larger scale. Fig. 3 is aplan view. It repre; sents the extensible work without the samples attached; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section with the samples attached. Fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 3,but with the extensibleparts closed together. The remaining figures represent a modification. Fig. 6 isa plan view, and Fig. 7 van elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

A is the central portion of the body or case, having a plane bottom and planeupright side A'. B is an end portion correspondingly formed,

.board J in positions parallel to each other and connected-to A by flexible joints a. C is a plane end attached to the part B. B are upright sides. D is an opposite end portion,

Aconnected to Av by turning joints cl. E is a plane end attached. The partsD E are larger, and when the box is closed inclose the other parts. The raised sides of B and A are tongued and grooved, and rest on and support each other when the boxis closed. The Whole may be of stout pasteboard, leather, wood, papiermache, or other strong material. It should be tastilysurfaced, either by finishing its own material or by covering with muslin, morocco, Russia leather, or other suitable material,

' plain or decorated. Any suitablelocks, clasps,

l H connect the plates at their centers.- The rivets I connect them at their ends. The latter rivets extend up throirghl the material of the several cards .J.V ,The rivets-I along one side of the series seteasily in corresponding round holes iu the several cards J. The opposite rivets, I', along the other side of the series are received in slots j', which allow them to move freely 4outward and inward. The rivets thus serve to keep the narrow strips of cardhut allow the system to bei extended and the bars G to change their angular position in regard to each other within wide limits, the several rivets I movinginward toward the center of the series in the several slots j as the device is extended, and moving outward in the slots j as the device is contracted orrclosed together.

To each narrow card Jis connected another narrow strip, K, of the same or other suitable `gether again.

material, on which latter are mounted the ruffles or other goods to be exhibited. Each card J should show a different style, size, grade, or quality.

L L, Src., are a seriesof pieces of card or other suitable material joined by iiexible connections each to one edge of a horizontal card, J, and to the upper edge of the adjacent upright card K. The several strips ot' card J K L are connected by iiexible joints j k l, so that they are capable of turning with tolerable freedom as the device is opened and closed.

When the case previously described is tirst opened the samples M and the extensible system of devices on which they are supported are exposed to View standing between the sides A', but in a too closely compacted condition to allow their being properly inspected. By taking hold of the two ends ot' the system of cards and pulling them gently apart the system instantly-expands. rEhe several cards J move apart, maintaining'each its original horizontal position, and also maintaining their strictly parallel position each to the other; but the distance of each from the other is increased, the system of bars G narrowing and the rivets I' moving inward, each traversing in its respective slot j' and maintaining the parallel position of the corresponding card J. 'Ihe rivets I I have no such inward motion. Theymove apart and together, but do not move inward toward the center ofthe system. They are set in round holes, and serve to maintain each card in its proper position laterally. The construction allows the lot ot' samples to be extended some three or more times its original length. In this extended condition the ruffles or other goods M are sufficiently separated to allow the proper examination of each unobstructed by the adjacent ruftles. A reversion of the movement closes the system toin extending the system the iiexibly-connected cards K L flatten down or assume positions approximating the plane of the several cards J. The ruftles or other goodsM should be attached'in such position to the cards K that when the apparatus is thus extended they willl be exposed in the most favorable condition for examination. As the cards J are moved to gether in closing the system the connected cardsK L are caused to assume more nearly upright positions, and when the device is fully closed they may be brought into absolutely parallel planes. This last condition is not absolutely essential, but it depends on the proportion ot the parts; but it is important that the goods M be attached in such positions that when the device is closed they shall be held in upright, or nearly upright, positions,

kso as to allow ot being stowed compactly together. l

Modilications may be made in the proporn tions and details without departing from the principle of the invention.

I have represented a notch or recess in one As the cards J are moved apart y `quired.

edge of each card J, which allows the upper end of the rivet H to be received. I have shown the cards J K L as each a separate piece of material, as card-board or wood, connected each to the other by a strip of iiexible material, as muslin; but I can realize a good portion of the advantages ot` the invention by making two or more ofthe cards in a continuous piece ot' card-board or other tough material and cutting it partly through where the jointsj k Z are required. l

The several rigid parts A B C D E and the side pieces, A' B', may be of the same material or ot' different material. A part or the whole may be metal. I propose in some instances to make the main body of pasteboard or other material of ordinary strength, with the edges fortified by metal. It will be understood that the size of the whole and its proportions may be varied within wide limits to accommodate various kinds or styles of goods.

I can make the device sufficiently wide to carry two or more samples of diierent ruting or other goods on each card K. The width of the cards J may' be considerably increased and still allow a considerable contraction of the length for packing.

The sides A of the main body of the box may be higher or lower than shown, the side pieces, B', being in such case made correspondingly higher or lower. I can make the side pieces A' ofthe full height of the ends C and E and omit entirely the side pieces B' D'.

Some parts of this invention may be used without the others. I can use the other parts successfully by employing the several cards J K, connected together rigidly or `tlexibly,'with out the other cards, L.

In Figs. 6 and 7 thelazy-tongs are connected to the strip of cards J by the central rivet, lH', and the rivets I I' are not connected, but play freely out and in as the expansible systein is drawn out and placed together.

rI he matching of the edges ot'A' and B together by tonguing and grooving or the like may be omitted when the outer cover, D D', is sufficiently rigid to hold the parts firmly in position'. The rivet H', connecting the extensible parts to the casing A, may be omitted .andthe parts left free to be removed, if re- Such may for some purposes be preferable. l

The samples M may be attached to either of the other cards, J or L, instead of being attachedV to K, it' preferred in any case. For wide or curved articles, as spoons and certain kinds ofcombs, the samples may be mounted on the horizontal cards J of the required width, and be each held up thereon by a suitable support, so as to allow the corresponding rivets I freedom to move under it.

l I claim as my invention- 1. In a sample-holder, the combination of the series of cards J K L with lexible connecting-join'tsy- 7c l, and with the samples M attached to one of the cards J K L, so as to :not

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only change their distances but also to change their inclination With the expansion and contraction ofthe series, as herein specified. 2. In a sample-holder, the case described, 5 having the parts A A B B' C D E, formed substantially as shown, and connected by iieX- ible joints a d, in combination with the series of cards J K L, connected by flexible joints j k l, all arranged for joint operation as herero in specified` 3. In a sample-holder, the series of cards J K L, flexibly hinged together,as shown, in combination with the lazy-tongs G H, so as to insure a uniformity of expansion and contrac- 15 tion, as herein specied.

4. The sample-holderdescribed, having the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set l my hand, at New York city, this 1st day of January,1881, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. I). WILLIAMS.

Witnesses WM. C. DEY, CHAR-LES R. SEARLE. 

